Late Cretaceous Echinoderm 'Odds and Ends' from the Low Countries
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Special Issue Contemp.Trends.Geosci.,7(3),2018,255-282 DOI: 10.2478/ctg-2018-0018 Late Cretaceous echinoderm ‘odds and ends’ from the Low Countries John W.M. Jagt1,*, Barry W.M. van Bakel2, Mart J.M. Deckers3, Stephen K. Donovan4, René H.B. Fraaije2, Elena A. Jagt-Yazykova5, Johan Laffineur6, Eric Nieuwenhuis7, Bruno Thijs8 1Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, de Bosquetplein 6-7, 6211 KJ Maastricht, the Netherlands 2Oertijdmuseum, Bosscheweg 80, 5283 WB Boxtel, the Netherlands 3Industriestraat 21, 5931 PG Tegelen, the Netherlands 4Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Taxonomy and Systematics Group, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands 5Uniwersytet Opolski, Katedra Biosystematyki, Pracownia Paleobiologii i Ewolucji, ul. Oleska 22, 45-052 Opole, Poland 6Olympialaan 1, bus 4, 3630 Maasmechelen, Belgium 7Hub. Ortmansstraat 4, 6286 EA Partij-Wittem, the Netherlands 8Universiteit Utrecht, Faculteit Geowetenschappen, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, the Netherlands *Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: 19th July, 2018 Accepted: 29th October, 2018 Abstract From various levels within the Gulpen and Maastricht formations (upper lower to upper upper Maastrichtian, c. 69.5–66 Ma) in the extended type area of the Maastrichtian Stage (southeast Netherlands, northeast Belgium and the Aachen area in Germany), a few recent additions to echinoderm faunas are illustrated and briefly discussed. Added are some erratic, flint-preserved, pre-Maastrichtian echinoid taxa from Pleistocene fluvial gravel deposits; these are of palaeogeographical interest. Crinoids include the comatulid Semiometra saskiae with traces of sublethal predation and several bourgueticrinines. Amongst the latter, the species Dunnicrinus aequalis is found preserved in biocalcarenites as well as in flint, comprising a near-complete specimen with a spectacular, semi- closed crown and a number of dissolved thecae in nodules with flint-filled, 3D-preserved nerve canals. In addition, two types of bourgueticrinid holdfasts on echinoid tests are described. Amongst echinoids, cidaroid taxa such as Temnocidaris (T.) sp. 1, with preserved primary and scrobicular spines, and Temnocidaris (Stereocidaris) aff. arnaudi, are briefly discussed. Of special note is a near-complete, flattened test of Palaeodiadema (in a private collection) from the upper Maastricht Formation at Eben Emael (province of Liège, northeast Belgium); although no spines are associated, this specimen could well become an eye opener in diadematoid classification. Of Hemipneustes striatoradiatus, a number of tests with growth deformities (i.e., lack of one of the paired ambulacra, healed puncture wounds and apical depressions) and syn-vivo parasite infestation have been collected over recent years. Bite marks and healed puncture wounds on tests of Echinocorys spp. are recorded from the Vijlen and Lixhe 1 members (Gulpen Formation), in addition to bioerosional trace fossils produced by acrothoracican cirripedes and anomiid bivalves. Clusters of phymosomatid, holasteroid and spatangoid echinoids testify to obrution-induced mass mortality, possibly following(?)spawning. Added is the first record from the Maastrichtian type area of echinoid-produced traces (comparable to Scolicia), based on a slab from the basal Valkenburg Member; associated spatangoids comprise only members of the micrasterid genus Diplodetus. Of ophiuroids, a fairly rich material of Ophiomusium, or a closely related genus, is available from the Gronsveld, Emael and Meerssen members, 255 Pobrano z https://repo.uni.opole.pl / Downloaded from Repository of Opole University 2021-10-08 Special Issue Contemp.Trends.Geosci.,7(3),2018,255-282 DOI: 10.2478/ctg-2018-0018 preserving (partial) discs with arms attached that reveal all details of disc plating, mouth frame and arm structure. Asteroids include a (?)new astropectinid from the uppermost Gronsveld Member that appears to be distinct from Betelgeusia exposita, Aldebarania taberna and other paxillosidans on record from the area. This is preserved in life position, directly below a mass accumulation of both marine (sea grass) and terrestrial plants that testifies to a sudden event (obrution). A near-complete specimen of the goniasterid Chomataster acules, contained in a flint nodule, adds to our knowledge of this taxon by preliminary CT scanning. Pre-Maastrichtian, flint-preserved erratics include a test of Bathysalenia and isolated primary spines of Hirudocidaris. The former genus is known from the area, from lower upper Campanian strata (B. obnupta), but the apical disc and ambulacral plating of the present specimen appears to differ from that of both older (Turonian-Coniacian) populations of B. granulosa and the younger B. obnupta. The genus Hirudocidaris is unknown from the study area and, therefore, is assumed to have come from further afield (northwest France, southern Belgium).. Key words: Echinoidea, Ophiuroidea, Asteroidea, Crinoidea, erratic boulders, northwest Europe Introduction reference is made to Jagt (1999a) and Jagt and Jagt-Yazykova (2012) (Fig. 2A, B). Below we Right from the start of serious fossil collecting present recent additions to echinoderm faunas in the Maastricht area in the latter half of the that are of definite Maastrichtian date, having eighteenth century, echinoderms (echinoids in been collected from the Vijlen (intervals 5 and particular) have been attracting attention 6), Lixhe 1-3 and Lanaye members (Gulpen (Leske, 1778; Faujas de Saint-Fond, 1798- Formation) and from all members of the 1803). During the two centuries that followed, overlying Maastricht Formation. A small numerous species of echinoid, asteroid, crinoid number of specimens have been taken from and ophiuroid have been described in scientific existing museum collections, primarily from the and popular literature alike, and their Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht (NHMM; stratigraphical ranges refined. Dissociated EN – Eric Nieuwenhuis Collection; JJ – John ossicles of holothurians have also been Jagt Collection; LJ – Johan Laffineur recorded, albeit rarely (Zeleznik, 1985; Reich, Collection; LN – Leo Nelissen Collection; MD 2003); more research in this field is needed. – Mart Deckers Collection; MK – Werner M. Here we present brief descriptions of a Felder Collection) and the Oertijdmuseum, selection of newly collected echinoderms, as Boxtel (MAB). well as softground and bioerosional ichnofossils Over recent decades, non-professional linked with these. These specimens originate palaeontologists, from all walks of life (Fig. 2C, from the middle and upper Gulpen Formation D), have been instrumental in furthering our (Vijlen, Lixhe and Lanaye members) and entire knowledge of Late Cretaceous faunal and floral Maastricht Formation (Valkenburg, Gronsveld, assemblages in the extended area of the Schiepersberg, Emael, Nekum and Meerssen Maastrichtian Stage. This paper is a tribute to members) as exposed at a number of localities all of them. in the extended type area of the Maastrichtian Stage (Fig. 1). Brief descriptions, arranged by group Study area and stratigraphy Crinoids For recent overviews of lithostratigraphical and Locally, comatulid crinoids of the genera biostratigraphical subdivisions of Upper Amphorometra Gislén, 1924, Jaekelometra Cretaceous strata in the study area (Fig. 1), Gislén, 1924 and Semiometra Gislén, 1924 are 256 Pobrano z https://repo.uni.opole.pl / Downloaded from Repository of Opole University 2021-10-08 Special Issue Contemp.Trends.Geosci.,7(3),2018,255-282 DOI: 10.2478/ctg-2018-0018 Fig.1. Map of the extended type area of the Maastrichtian Stage, showing key localities in southern Limburg (the Netherlands, N), in the provinces of Liège and Limburg (Belgium, B) and in the Aachen area (Germany, G) [inset]. common in the Nekum and Meerssen members indentations in the margin that are here of the Maastricht Formation (Jagt, 1990, interpreted as bite/pinch marks of some 1999b). Centrodorsals, occasionally with the predator, either a fish or a decapod crustacean. basal and radial rings still articulated and Other protential predators on such comatulids illustrating various ontogenetic stages, are include ammonoid, nautiloid and coleoid sturdy and easily recognised. Associated are cephalopods and regular echinoids. Stevenson both proximal and distal brachials and cirrals, et al. (2017) have recently documented that which suggests some site fidelity and relatively even regular echinoids (e.g., cidaroids) can feed limited post-mortem transport. The small, on co-occurring comatulids. This may also have sturdy and conical centrodorsals of been the case in the upper Maastricht Formation Jaekelometra spp. are either of (near-) pristine from which a number of cidaroid taxa have been preservation, or show signs of fracturing and recorded (Jagt, 2000b; see below). abrasion, with all intermediates. Fragmentary Of stalked crinoids, additional material of specimens may be illustrative of predation and Dunnicrinus aequalis (d’Orbigny, 1841) has selective cropping, passing through the stomach been collected, subsequent to detailed accounts and intestines of fish (or other larger of a crinoid/asteroid/ophiuroid Fossil predators/scavengers) and being partially Lagerstätte from the lower Gronsveld Member abraded in the process. Others may be truly (St. Pieter and ENCI horizons, Maastricht sublethal. The average-sized centrodorsal of Formation) at the ENCI-HeidelbergCement Semiometra saskiae Jagt, 1999b illustrated here Group quarry (Jagt et al., 1998; Jagt, 1999b). (Fig. 3A-C) shows